"Pardon me, madame," he said, "but we have not come here to annoy a
woman. We were fired upon from this house. The man who did it has had
no opportunity to escape, and I'm sure that he's still concealed within
these walls."

"Seek and ye shall--not find," she half quoted.

"I must search the house."

"Proceed."

"First question her," the sergeant whispered in the young lieutenant's
ear.

Dick nodded.

"Pardon me, madame," he said, "but I must obtain information from you.
This is war, you know."

"I have had many rude reminders that it is so."

"Where is your husband?"

She pointed upward.

"Forgive me," said Dick impulsively. "I did not intend to recall a
grief."

"Don't worry. You and your comrades will never intrude upon him there."